Senior Trade Officer, PITD2 at African Development Bank - AfDB

Reference: ADB/20/136
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: PL5
Position N°: 50068527

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization is central to the Bank’s mission of developing the private sector, improving infrastructure and accelerating industrialization.
• The complex main functions are to (i) strengthen the enabling environment for private sector [and financial sector] development conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development, (ii) support the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including cities and urban development, and (iii) place renewed emphasis on industrial and trade performance in support of structural transformation across Africa.
• The Complex leverages knowledge, co-financing, and partnerships to attract private capital and work with governments on delivering the Bank’s development agenda.

The Hiring / Division:

• In line with the Bank Ten-Year Strategy, and consistent with the High 5 strategies, the Division drives the Bank’s Trade development, including trade policy and trade facilitation, and investment climate agenda.
• The Division work is carried out in close collaboration with PIVP Complex, the Regional Integration Department (RDRI), the Economic Governance and Agriculture Complexes, RDTS and the regional hubs of the Bank.

The Position

• The Senior Trade Officer will focus on macroeconomic work to deepen country knowledge, preparation of Economic Sector Works and coordination of the preparation of RMC Trade Strategy Papers, business development and other relevant documents (mid-term review, completion report, etc.).

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the general guidance and supervision of the Manager, Trade and Investment Climate Division, the incumbent will perform the following duties and responsibilities the Country Economist will:

• Analyze the trade, economic and financial conditions of Regional Member Countries, using internal and external information sources, and determine the implications for the programming and updating of Bank Group operations such as defined in the Country Strategy Paper.
• Examine the impact of Bank Group operations, in the countries concerned, of regional economic integration programmes and make recommendations on the role of the Bank Group in assisting trade and regional integration initiatives.
• Undertake assigned Economic and Sector Work (ESW), focusing mainly on issues of trade, competition and investment climate profiling, and papers on relevant trade related economic and investment issues in the development process.
• Identify, prepare, evaluate and monitor the implementation of trade economics, trade development and facilitation programmes.
• Coordinate the preparation of Country Diagnostic Notes (CDNs), Country Strategy Papers (CSPs), based on the Regional Member Countries Regional Integration Strategies (RISPS), Trade Development Agenda priorities as well as (AfCFTA Implementation Strategies).
• Maintain effective communication with the sector departments and other relevant units in the Bank to ensure a coordinated approach in the implementation of the Bank’s Strategy and Lending/Non-lending operations in assigned countries.
• Participate in Country Portfolio Reviews. CSPs, Concept Note writing and PCR processes.
• Participate in aid coordination activities with the Trad Complex (UNCTAD, WTO, ITC, UNECA, AU, WB, RECs), as well as bilateral and multilateral donors, with emphasis on promoting effective trade development interventions, projects and programmes.
• Participate in the preparation of the department’s budget, the annual and triennial lending/non-lending programmes and briefs on trade development issues, economic reform and institutional support programmes.
• Develop and build client relations at levels and plays a promotional role in generating new business to PITD2 and for the Bank.

Selection Criteria

• Hold at least a Master's degree or its equivalent in Economics, Public Policy and Public Administration, International Trade Policy, Trade Statistics, Investment Climate Development, Global trade management, economic regulation and/or competition economics or other relevant discipline;
• Have a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in the areas of trade development, private and public sector competition policy reforms, policy formulation and implementation in developing country context;
• Experience as a practitioner in the economic analysis of global trade policies, Knowledge of Continental and global trade developments (e.g., AfCFTA,) providing direct advice to the private sector and case-handling cross-border or intra-country trade, infrastructure, industrial development and technical assistance on trade reforms, lending/non-lending projects and policies;
• Strong knowledge of socio-economic, trade facilitation, investment climate, regulatory reforms and policies and business environment issues in African countries;
• Client and results oriented individual, with strong analytical and communication (both verbally and in writing) skills, sense of accuracy and attention to detail;
• Ability to build partnership with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the institution;
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a good knowledge of the other;
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).